The president of the University of Maine's flagship Orono campus say she plans to close a $7 million budget gap for the next fiscal year without cutting academic programs or laying off workers.

The Portland Press Herald reports that President Susan Hunter said Thursday that the goal is to "minimize the impact on academic and student services."

Officials say they must cut next year's $242 million budget by $7 million.

Almost half of the cuts, $3.2 million, will come from academic affairs. Other major cuts will include $900,000 in administration and finance and $440,000 from the president's office.

Hunter said in addition to the proposed cuts, the Orono campus will make investments in certain areas identified as "centers of excellence," such as engineering, marine science and climate change.